32 
KEY TO NATURAL GROUPS AND SPECIES (ADULTS). 
A. With conspicuous line of white on each side of 
crown, from above hinder ear-coverts. Size 
large (20-24 in.). 
Europe and 
W. Asia (Asia 
Minor, Palestine 
etc.) ; in winter 
to N. Africa and 
164. Astur gentilis gentilis Linn., S.N., 1., p. 89 
(1758). [Alps = Dalecarlian Alps, apud 
Hartert:] 
Common Goshawk. 
Wing 3¢ 315-334, 2 355-380 mm.; crown Himalayas. 
blackish ; above ashy brown ; below white 
barred with blackish brown; tail with 4 
dark bands.! 
*64a. Astur gentilis arrigont? Kleinsch.,Orn. MB., Sardinia, 
x1., pp. 152-3 (1903). [Sardinia.] Corsica ? 
Sardinian Goshawk. 
Smaller and much darker race; wing ¢ 
292-305, 2 335-45 mm. 
{64b. Astur gentilis schvedowi Menz., Orn. Geogr. N. Asia to 
Eur. Russia, p. 439 (1882). [Zvansbai- Thibet ; Japan ; 
kalia. | in winter to 
Siberian Goshawk. India and 
Burma. 
Less brownish, purer grey ; markings below 
rather finer and paler; wing 3 290-323, 
2 353-359 mm. 
1 The young of most species of the genus Asturv, both in the typical group 
and many succeeding ones, are brown above, the feathers more or less margined 
with ochraceous or rufous, and ochraceous to creamy white (according to age) below 
with longitudinal markings, usually in the form of streaks on throat and large oval 
spots on breast and flanks, although in some species the flanks may be barred. Those 
juvenile examples of A. gentilis which are whitish below are clearly older than those 
which are ochraceous, as may be seen by lifting a feather, when a rudimentary bar 
is seen at the base. All birds of prey change a little with their annual moults so 
itis a fallacy to assume there are only the juvenile and adult plumages. Thecharacters 
given, as in other genera, are those of average adult birds. 
